Mounting and locking means for gum vending machines and the like



8, 1967 1.. M. BECKER 3,334,953

MOUNTING AND LOCKING MEANS FOR GUM VENDING MACHINES AND THE LIKE FiledJune 5, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR LYLE M. BECKER ATTORNEY s- 8,1967 L. M. BECKER 3,334,953

MOUNTING AND LOCKING MEANS FOR GUM VENDING MACHINES AND THE LIKE FiledJune 5, 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 I Z 7 20 l :1 l 5 INVENTOR I Uh, H LYLE M.BECKER 2" 5K? W 32) 32 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,334,953 MOUNTINGAND LOCKING MEANS FOR GUM VENDING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Lyle M. Becker,1803 Reid Drive, Appleton, Wis. 54911 Filed June 3, 1966, Ser. No.555,090 7 Claims. (Cl. 312-253) This invention relates to mounting andlocking means for gum vending machines and the like, and resides morespecifically in means particularly suitable for multiple, stackedinstallations of such machines.

Multiple vending machine installations, for example with a number ofmachines on a single stand, are quite common, and it is often desirableto providea stacked multiple. installation where one machine or group ofmachines is disposed directly above another to make maximum use ofavailable space. The means used to mount the machines in such aninstallation must fulfill several requirements. First, each machine mustbe securely mounted and should be locked in place to prevent tampering.Further, each individual machine should be quickly and easily removableby authorized persons for filling and collection, repair and/orreplacement. Still further, the entire installation should be as compactand attractive as possible.

Present mounting arrangements do not meet the foregoing needs and thusare not entirely suitable for multiple installations. This isparticularly true with regard to stacked installations in whichproviding for removability of the lower machines presents a specialproblem. In some present stacked installations, for example, it isnecessary to remove the upper machines in order to gain access to thosebelow, which is obviously undesirable.

It is an object of this invention to provide mounting and locking meansparticularly suitable for multiple, stacked installations wherein amachine may easily be removed and replaced by being slid off of and onto a mounting platform.

It is another object of the invention to provide means wherein themachine is securely locked to the mounting platform and can easily belocked and unlocked by authorized personnel.

It is a further object of the invention to provide means in which asingle 'bolt is used to lock the machine in place on the platform and tolock an access door of the machine.

Other objects of the invention include the provision of mounting andlocking means that is highly effective while being simple andinexpensive to manufacture and use, and which allows for the provisionof a compact, attractive installation.

Further objects and advantages will appear from the description tofollow. In the description, reference is made to the accompanyingdrawing, which forms a part hereof, in which there is shown, by way ofillustration and not of limitation, a preferred embodiment of theinvention.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view in perspective, partially broken ,away, of avending machine and mounting platform illustrating mounting and lockingmeans formed according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary front view, with parts shown brokenaway and in cross-section, showing the machine of FIG. 1 in place on theplatform, and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view in cross-section taken through the plane3-3 shown in FIG. 2.

The vending machine shown in the drawings is more or less conventionalin overall configuration, and comprises a generally rectangular sheetmetal cabinet 1 defined by "ice full side walls 2, a full rear wall 3, apartial front wall 4, a floor 5 and a removable cover 6, there being alarge front access opening 7 below where the front wall 4 terminates.The cabinet lhouses a conventional dispensing mechanism 8 which ismounted on a horizontal plate 9 which is mounted on the walls 2, 3, 4and divides the cabinet 1 into upper and lower portions.

The upper portion of the cabinet 1 serves as a receptacle for gum,trinkets and/or other items to be dispensed, filling being accomplishedby removing the cover 6, and a display window 10 is provided in thefront wall 4 for viewing such items. The lower portion constitutes areceptacle for coins introduced into the machine, and houses a dischargechute 11 for the items dispensed which leads from the upper portion tothe opening 7.

The forward edges of the side walls 2 are bent back upon themselves andhave peripheral portions in the area of the opening 7 which are turnedinwardly to define side seating ledges 12 running along either side ofthe opening 7. The forward edge of the floor 5 is stepped to define alower seating ledge 13 along the bottom of the opening 7. The forwardedge of the plate 9 serves as a horizontal upper seating ledge runningalong the top of the opening 7.

The side walls 2 extend below the floor 5 where they are turned inwardlyto define parallel mounting flanges 14 which run from the front to therear of the cabinet 1 below the floor 5. The sheet forming the floor 5extends downwardly in front of the ledge 13 to define a skirt [5 thatextends to approximately the level of the flanges 14. The floor 5 isprovided near its forward edge with a locking slot 16 that isapproximately centrally located with respect to the opening 7. Anoffset, slotted plate 17 is attached to the underside of the floor 5 inalignment with the slot 16 to provide additional strength.

The opening 7 is normally closed off by a square metal door 18 which isprovided with a rearwardly turned peripheral rim 19 which is received inthe opening 7 and seats against the ledges 12, 13 and the forward edgeof the plate 9. A pair of spaced lugs 20 are mounted or formed on theupper edge of the door 18 and these are hooked behind the lower edge ofthe front wall 4 when the door 18 is in place over the opening 7.

Mounted on the door 18 is a conventional operating mechanism includingan outside operating handle 21 and an operating gear 22 that is on theinside of the door 18 to be operatively engageable with the dispensingmechanism 8 when the door 18 is in place. A coin slot 23 is provided onthe outside of the door 18 above the handle 21. The door 18 is furtherprovided with a discharge opening 24 that is in alignment with the chute11 when the door 18 is in place, the opening 24 being covered by ahinged cover plate 25.

The operating and dispensing mechanisms of the vend-v ing machine havenot been shown and will not be described in detail since theirconstruction and operation are well known to those skilled in the artand since any of several well known arrangements may be used withoutdeparture from the invention. Sufiice it to say that the user insertsthe proper coin in the slot 23 and turns the handle 21, which causesrotation of the gear 22 and actuation of the mechanism 8, all resultingin the dispensing of one or a selected number of items through the chute11 and out the opening 24.

Mounted near the bottom of the door 18 is a lock 26 with an outwardlyfacing keyhole 27 and a pivotable bolt 28 of rectangular cross sectionwhich is directly over the slot 16 when the door 18 is in place. Thedoor 18 is locked in place by inserting a key (not shown) in the keyhole27 and rotating it to pivot the bolt 28 to a vertical or lockedposition, shown in full lines in FIGS. 2 and 3,

wherein it passes through the slot 16 and plate 17 and extendstherebelow. Reverse rotation of the key moves the bolt 28 to ahorizontal or unlocked position, shown in broken lines in FIG. 2,wherein it is removed from the slot 16, whereupon the lower edge of thedoor 18 can be pivoted outwardly to disengage the lugs 20 and the door18 can be removed. To replace the door 18, the lugs 20 are first engagedand the door 18 is then pivoted into place and locked.

The reference numeral 29 designates a generally rectangular sheet metalmounting platform with turned down edges which can be constructed tomount one, two or more machines, and which may itself be mounted on asuitable stand or other support. For each machine to be mounted on theplatform 29, there is a generally square sheet metal mounting plate 30welded or otherwise securely attached to the upper surface of theplatform 29, two such plates 30 being provided for the particularplatform 29 shown. The side edges of the plates 30 are upwardly offsetto define outwardly extending, opposite parallel flanges or rails 31,which are spaced above the surface of the platform 29'. The frontoutside corners of the rails 31 are preferably slightly upturned at 32.In its front central area, the plate 30 is slit and punched to form acurved, upstanding lock abutment 33 which has a substantial width fromfront to rear.

The machine is mounted on the platform 29 by lining up the rear edges ofthe flanges 14- with the forward edges of the rails 31 and then slidingthe machine rearwardly onto the platform 29 to a mounted position shownin FIGS. 2 and 3. The upturned corners 32 minimize the possibility of ablocking engagement between the said edges of the flanges 14 and rails31 and thus insure easy mounting. When the machine is mounted, theflanges 14 rest on the platform 29 so that the machine is adequatelysupported and the rails 31 interlock with the flanges 14 to prevent themachine from being lifted or moved from side to side. The machine can bedismounted simply by sliding it forwardly to disengage the rails 31 andflanges 14. It is unnecessary during either mounting or dismounting toraise the machine substantially above the platform 29, and essentiallyonly forward or rearward sliding motion is required.

When the machine is being mounted, it is slid rearwardly until the rearsurface of the skirt blockingly engages the forward surface of theabutment 33, and the skirt 15 thus serves as a stop limiting rearwardmovement of the machine and establishing its mounted position.

In mounted position, and as can be seen most clearly in FIG. 3, theabutment 33 is below and immediately forward of the bolt 28. When thebolt 28 is pivoted to its locked position, therefore, it is blockinglyengageable with the rear surface of the abutment 33 to lock the machineagainst forward movement. Movement of the bolt 28 to its unlockedposition removes it from behind the abutment 33 whereupon the machinecan he slid forwardly off the platform 29. Thus, a single element, thebolt 28, is used to lock the door 18 in place and to lock the machine inplace on the platform 29. Locking and unlocking are easily accomplishedfrom the front of the machine. Both the machine and door are heldsecurely in place and protected against tampering or theft. The slot 16and abutment 33- provide eflective engagements for the bolt 28 but aresimple and inexpensive to form, and the abutment 33 serves theadditional purpose of engaging the skirt 15 to orient the machine on theplatform 29.

Although only a single vending machine has been shown, it will beobvious to those skilled in the art that the mounting and locking meansshown is readily adaptable to multiple, stacked installations. Asindicated, two or any desired number of machines may be mounted side byside on the platform 29 by providing the appropriate number of plates30. Two or more platforms 29 may then be stacked or mounted above oneanother supported by suitable side frames which could form a part of afloor stand or be mounted on a wall or other supporting structure.

The mounting and locking means shown is particularly suited for suchmultiple, stacked installations. Because only forward and backwardsliding motion is required for mounting and dismounting, horizontal andvertical spacing between individual machines can be held to a minimum.Each machine will be readily, simply removable from the front of theinstallation. Locking and unlocking can be equally easily accomplished,also from the front.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed, it would be obvious that modification might be made withoutdeparture from the invention. The plate 17, for example, is notnecessary as such and is only provided for additional mechanicalstrength, and other methods may be used to form the flanges 14, rails 31and abutment 33. Because of the possible modifications, the invention isnot to be limited by the showing herein or in any other manner exceptinsofar as limitations appear specifically in the following claims.

I claim:

1. Mounting and locking means for gum vending machines and the likecomprising a cabinet with a floor, said means comprising: a lock mountedon the machine that includes a bolt movable between a locked positionwherein it extends below the floor and an unlocked position; laterallyextending flange means on the machine below the floor; and a mountingplatform, said platform being provided with laterally extending railmeans adapted to slidably and interlockingly engage the flange meanswhereby the machine may be slid rearwardly to and forwardly from amounted position on the platform but is held against vertical or lateralmovement, said platform further being provided with a locking abutmentthat is forward of the bolt when the machine is in mounted position andis blockingly engageable therewith when the bolt is in locked positionto hold the machine against forward movement with respect to theplatform.

2. Means according to claim 1 wherein the machine cabinet is providedwith an access opening and there is a removable door adapted to closeoff the access opening; and the floor is provided with a locking slottherethrough; and the lock is mounted on the door, the bolt beingdisposed inwardly of the door and being pivotable between its locked andunlocked positions, the bolt when in locked position being vertical andpassing through the slot to lock the door in place and the bolt when inunlocked position being horizontal and above the floor to be removedfrom the slot.

3. Means according to claim 1 wherein the cabinet has opposite parallelsides and the flange means comprises a pair of inwardly extendingflanges running along thebottorn edges of said sides; and the rail meanscomprises a pair of parallel outwardly extending rails spaced above thesurface of the platform; and the abutment is located between the rails.

4. Means according to claim 3 wherein there is a mounting plate aflixedto the platform which has parallel side edges that are upwardly offsetto form the rails, and a central portion of the plate is upwardly offsetto define the abutment.

5. Means according to claim 3 wherein the machine cabinet is providedwith an access opening and there is a removable door adapted to closeoff the access opening; and the floor is provided with a locking slottherethrough; and the lock is mounted on the door, the bolt beingdisposed inwardly of the door and being pivotable between its locked andunlocked positions, the bolt when in locked position being vertical andpassing through the slot to lock the door in place and the bolt when inunlocked position being horizontal and above the floor to be removedfrom the slot.

6. Means according to claim 3 wherein the cabinet has a downwardlydepending stop near its front that is blockingly engageable with theabutment to prevent the machine from being slid rearwardly past itsmounted position.

7. Means according to claim 5 wherein the cabinet has a front wall witha lower edge which defines the top of the access opening; and there areseating ledge means about the opening; and the door is adapted to seatagainst the seating ledge means and is provided with rearwardly offsetlug means adapted to be hooked behind the lower edge of the front wall;and the cabinet is provided with a downwardly depending stop that isengageable with the locking abutment to prevent the machine from beingslid rearwardly past its mounted position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Weiss 312-253 X Eagley 312-257Hill 312-257 Shann 232116 Osborne 232-15 Lewis 312-311 X DAVID J.WILLLAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

JAMES T. MCCALL, Examiner.

1. MOUNTING AND LOCKING MEANS FOR GUM VENDING MACHINES AND THE LIKE COMPRISING A CABINET WITH A FLOOR, SAID MEANS COMPRISING: A LOCK MOUNTED ON THE MACHINE THAT INCLUDES A BOLT MOVABLE BETWEEN A LOCKED POSITION WHEREIN IT EXTENDS BELOW THE FLOOR AND AN UNLOCKED POSITION; LATERALLY EXTENDING FLANGE MEANS ON THE MACHINE BELOW THE FLOOR; AND A MOUNTING PLATFORM, SAID PLATFORM BEING PROVIDED WITH LATERALLY EXTENDING RAIL MEANS ADAPTED TO SLIDABLY AND INTERLOCKINGLY ENGAGE THE FLANGE MEANS WHEREBY THE MACHINE MAY BE SLID REARWARDLY TO AND FORWARDLY FROM A MOUNTED POSITION ON THE PLATFORM BUT IS HELD 